As part of the Christmas season, Colonial Williamsburg has an illumination several nights a week in different parts of the historic area.
Both last year and this year, we participated in the Illumination of the Taverns.
As the fife and drum corps plays tunes while marching down Duke of Gloucester Street lit by cressets, history of each of the taverns is read.
Last year, snowflakes wafted down, creating a serene, picturesque town, that came to life in the firing of guns, the lighting of cressets and the playing of the fife and drum corps.
It was so beautiful…despite the freezing snow!
This year we quickly scurried through the prodigious crowd from another program, to meet the Fife and Drum Corps just as they began marching from the Prentis Store to the Capitol.
As they marched and played their tunes, they paused at each of the taverns for the ceremonial lighting of the cressets, firing of the guns, and reading of the history.
Then they resumed marching and playing tunes to the next stop for each tavern: Weatherburns, Raleigh, Kings Arms, Shields, Edinburg Castle, and the Coffeehouse.
As much fun as it is on the streets, it’s also fun to be eating in the taverns, and especially sitting by the windows when the Fife and Drum Corps come by, which we did on our last visit.
Afterwards the cressets remain lit while 21st century carolers distribute music sheets for us to join in the singing of songs of yore and of the more modern sort.
Two similar events during December include Illumination of the Palace and Illumination of the Capitol, which we have not yet had opportunity to participate in.
